Gum Grafting

Why Consider Gum Grafting?

Gums can recede for a number of different reasons. For example if you have had active gum disease then you will have noticed your teeth appear longer than before. This is because gum disease causes the gums to begin to pull away from the teeth, gradually exposing more of the tooth surface and eventually the tooth roots.

Are you brushing your teeth too hard?

Your gums may also recede if you have brushed your teeth too hard as gum tissue is actually quite delicate and can be easily worn away. Apart from looking unsightly, receding gums can cause dental problems.

Tooth roots are more easily decayed as they are covered in a substance called cementum that is much softer than dental enamel, leaving them vulnerable to decay causing bacteria. In addition, exposed tooth roots are more likely to be sensitive to hot and cold, a sensation that can be unpleasant to say the least. Repairing damaged gums through gum grafting also helps reduce the risk of future gum recession, protects the tooth against any further loss of supporting bone and will make the teeth easier to keep clean, reducing plaque buildup.

What Is a Gum Graft?

A gum graft is a procedure that uses artificial or gum tissue to repair receding gums. Sometimes gum recession is treated by removing tissue from another area in your mouth, for example the roof of your mouth or from another area where you have plenty of tissue.

If you have enough gum tissue then it’s possible to uses tissue from near the tooth that needs repairing and during this procedure the gum tissue still remains attached to its original location but is simply pulled into position and stitched in place. However this isn’t always necessary as regenerative tissue matrixes can be used to encourage the growth of new gum tissue without using a graft.

Types of Gum Graft

There are actually three different types of gum grafts that your periodontist could choose from. Most often, in our practice we use:

Connective-tissue grafts – which take tissue from underneath the skin on the top of your mouth, for the procedure.

Free Gingival grafts – Free gingival grafts use tissue from the palate skin, instead of tissue from underneath the skin like with connective-tissue grafts.

Pedicle grafts – only work if enough tissue is present, use some of the tissue already around the tooth.

What to Expect after a Gum Graft

After you have had a gum graft you will need to stick to a diet of soft foods and you shouldn’t eat anything that is too hard. We may prescribe medications and you might have a certain amount of discomfort. This will be particularly true if you had tissue removed from another area of your mouth in preparation for a gum graft.

Minor discomfort for a few days.

Generally, you can expect to feel minor discomfort for a few days after surgery and the sensation has been likened to the type of burn you receive after eating food that is too hot, for example pizza or toasted cheese. Most people find they heal up well after surgery and that they can soon eat normally once more.

For more information about Gum or Bone Graft procedure talk to our top periodontists, best specialists Dr. Daniel Royzman and Dr. Daria Royzman or contact our Manhattan, NYC center: